DECISIONS ON CITY OFFICIAL PLAN WILL DETERMINE WHAT OUR CITY LOOKS LIKE AND HOW MUCH WE PAY IN TAX

If the proposals for changing the Official Plan pass without amendment we will have much needed controls on where and how intensification will take place, but there will be an 800 hectare expansion of the urban boundary. Details can be found here.

If the City’s urban boundary expands, we will see the impact in future City budgets with revenues not keeping pace with the cost of services.

Growth inside the Greenbelt generates an average of $1,035 per household per year more than it costs. In the urban area outside the Greenbelt, growth costs the City money – an average of $70/household/year. Growth in the rural part of Ottawa is even more expensive for taxpayers.

These costs are why the City is trying to promote development through intensification.

Given the environmental impacts of paving over more land, it also makes sense to delay expanding the urban boundary until absolutely necessary.

People can make presentations to the Joint Agriculture and Rural Affairs and Planning and Environment Committee on May 12 or send comments to committee members. To arrange to speak to the committee or to provide comments for the committee, please contact Robert Tremblay at Rob.Tremblay@ottawa.ca or 613-580-2424, ext. 28828.

Rally Against Urban Boundary Expansion

Because of the environmental and financial impacts of expanding the urban boundary, there will be a rally against expansion. It will be at 12:00 noon on Tuesday May 12 at the Human Rights Monument at Elgin & Lisgar Streets.